It’s spring, and buds are sprouting through the - ash? Our next Smarty Pints is Monday, May 18th, the anniversary of the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens (Loowit/Lawetlat’la). Come hear some of the fascinating stories!
🌋 Prof. Harold Tobin
Professor and Paros Endowed Chair in Seismology and Geohazards, UW Earth and Space Sciences
Director, Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
“When Mt. St. Helens blew its top - and how we (probably) will know before it happens again”
Mt. St. Helens blew itself to pieces in 1980 in the largest eruption on record in the Cascade volcanoes. 46 years later, we can still see the effects in the landscape today. UW and USGS scientists recognized the signs of an impending eruption months in advance and sounded the alarm, undoubtedly saving many lives. Now, MSH is considered the most likely of Cascades peaks to erupt again – but how do we know? We monitor tiny earthquakes, bulges and changes in the land with GPS, temperature, and gases, all to detect any signs of unrest. I’ll discuss the state of the science then and now and our role in it here at the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.
🌱 Dr. Eric Wagner
Writer and researcher
UW Center for Ecosystem Sentinels
“After the Blast: The ecological recovery of Mount St. Helens”
On May 18, 1980, the world watched in awe as Mount St. Helens erupted, killing 57 people and laying waste to hundreds of square miles of land. Everyone thought life would take ages to return to the mountain, but scientists who visited soon after were shocked to find plants sprouting up through the ash, and animals skittering around downed trees. Ecologists have since spent decades studying life’s resilience in the face of seeming total devastation. Through their work, the eruption of Mount St. Helens has become known as the greatest natural experiment in Pacific Northwest history. Tonight, author Eric Wagner will take everyone on a journey through the blast zone. He will talk not just of the surprising ways animals and plants survived the eruption, but also the complex roles that people have played, all while showing how fascinating Mount St. Helens still is more than forty years after the blast.
We had a lot of fun hosting a @cascadebicycle celebration station for Bike Everywhere Day! We canned up some water to go with the regular treats.
Come back when we’re open and have a pint!
Supposed to rain tomorrow, so come sit outside and drink beer and play @kingtrivia tonight with host TC @chengagingtheworld !
Starts at 7, get here early to get a seat!
Our last night of Frühlingsfest 2026! And we’re doing Kölsch service. From 5-8 tonight, we’re turning off all the taps except the tap for our new Kölsch, Kölner Dom!
The way it works is our kobes (server) will keep putting full 200ml stangen (glasses) of kölsch in front of you until you put your coaster on your glass, telling him you’ve had enough.
(It is possible he will get sassy with you as well, let’s see what kind of mood he’s in.)
He makes a mark on your coaster each time, you tally up at the end. And you go home with your very own stange.
Come join the fun! Just don’t try to order an ipa. Until after 8, anyway.
Frühlingsfest continues, and it’s Mother’s Day! Bring your mom in and get a dollar off her pints!
And get her an ice cream from @seattlehappysmacks , who will be setting up about 1pm. I hear mom also likes bratwurst - we’ll start grilling at 4.
Got the new beers on draft and in cans! See you today!
lovely day for a bike ride, @seattlehappysmacks here for the kiddos in the afternoon, @brogurt on the patio for karaoke tonight!
🚨Puzzle Buzz is back at Burke-Gilman Brewing Company in Seattle, WA on May 24 at 6:00!🚨
Quick Info....
🎟️ Tickets can ONLY be found on our website, www.Puzzle.buzz
🧩 Teams of up to four compete to finish a new puzzle every month the fastest
🏆 Winners scores gift certificates from @Puzzled.ly
📈 1st place finishers our added to our national ranking database
🎁 Keep the puzzle when you’re done
Flying solo? Grab a Puzzle Pairing ticket and we’ll connect you with an open team (if they’re game). Got a group of 5? Sure – but that’ll cost you 10 extra minutes on your finish time.
Mark your calendars, tag your friends, and get excited for our upcoming talks! We'll see you on third Mondays, 6:30pm at Burke-Gilman Brewing.
May 18 - it's the 46th anniversary of the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens! Prof. Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, and Dr. Eric Wagner, writer and biologist, will tell us the story of what that blast has taught us about the geology and ecology of volcanoes.
June 15 - it's all about interactions between animals and people. Wildlife science communicator Ellen Weatherford will have us rooting for either seals and sea lions or the people trying to keep them out of the Ballard Locks, and biologist Dr. Valentina Alaasam will talk about how birds are adapting to urbanization.
July 20 - malaria researcher Cassandra Fieldson will put the world's deadliest animals under a microscope - literally - and Zach Pratt of the Black Diamond Historical Society will dig into how ancient tropical swamps fueled coal mining here in King County.
Tuesday boozeday don’t snooze day, get down here and call some friends and join us for @kingtrivia with TC @chengagingtheworld
Come get a preview of the lagers we’ve got on for Frühlingsfest this weekend!
Let’s raise a stein and welcome spring at our annual Frühlingsfest, May 8 through May 11. Inspired by traditional German spring festivals, this four-day celebration will feature a lively mix of authentic beers, spirited music, and classic Bavarian-style festivities. Bring your lederhosen!
We’re showcasing crisp lagers and a few German ales. A Munich Helles, a Munich Dunkel, a German Pilsner, and a 10 Degree Czech Pale. Rauchbier and Schwarzbier. Even a Maibock! And a Hefewiezen and a Kölsch for the ale fans. Head brewer Chaz Lakip brings deep respect for continental brewing traditions, with an emphasis on drinkability.
Pair them with bratwurst, landjaeger and soft pretzels. It’s going to be warm - ride your bike, get a radler made with of any of the lagers.
We’ll have Stein Hoisting Contests (Masskrugstemmen) throughout the weekend.
On Monday, the brewery will host a special Kölsch service, a traditional experience from Cologne. Servers will keep putting fresh 200ml tubes of Kölsch in front of you until you tell them you’ve had enough!
We’ve got Happy Smacks @seattlehappysmacks ice cream truck on site Saturday and Sunday, we’ve got brats every evening. Come thirsty!
Event Details:
What: Frühlingsfest at Burke-Gilman Brewing
When: May 8–11
Where: Burke-Gilman Brewing
